Drop hammer



May 23, 1933.

DROP HAMMER Filed May 17, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l 10' 1y fdfri@ C illiqgsBg y Z 7 Gttorneg,`

F. c; BILLINGs l 1,910,314-

May 23, 1933. F. c. B|| |NGS DROP HAMMER Filed May 17, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 2 l' Ihwetor zlliys Gtforneg May '23, 1933. F'. BILLISDROP-` HAMMER Filed May 17, 1929 Y 4 sheets-sheet I3 wfg-1 Gttorneg May23, 1933. Fl C, BlLLlNGS LQ DROP HAMMER Filed May 17, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 4 l l l l l i l Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FREDERIC c. RILLINGS, oF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AssIeNoR lTo, THEBILLINGs e SPENCER COMPANY, oF HARTFCRD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATIONoF'coNNFcTI- CUT DROIT? HAMMER Application led May 17,

The present invention relates to improvements in drop hammers, and hasfor an object to provide an improved roll l driving arrangement for drophammers, in which vibration is largely eliminated with economies inconstruction and operation, and with increases in strength, stabilityand durability.

Hcretotore factories employingl drop hammers have been eXpensivelyequipped with over-head pulleys and shafting Jfor carrying the source ofpower to the various drop hammers. Some effort has been made toeliminate this expensive equipment and vto clear the factories of allsuch overhead pulleys and shating by the substitution of electric drivesfor the individual machines, but such prior attempts have not signallysucceeded, owing to the fact that the introduction of the electric drivehas given rise to other diiiiculties and problems largely ,involvingmaintenance costs, vibration, excessive wear and tear on the machines,etc.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved constructionJfor direct motor driven drop hammers, in which the rolls for raisingthe hammer are driven by two electric driving mechanisms, thearralugement being such that a certain balance andlequilibrium areobtained both staticallyand dynamically, accompanied by a decideddecrease in, if not an entire elimination of, vibration and itsresulting objectionable wear and tear.

A further aim is to provide an improved arrangement which ischaracterized by its simplicity and ruggedness in construction, and byits ability to `stand up under the strains and shocks to which it mustbe subjected, thus materially reducing operating and maintenance costs.

A further object ot the invention resides in providing an improved headconstruction for drop hammers in which a compact assembly is provided,the various units being distributed and arranged symmetrically and socoordinated and related that the same are exposed for access in repairand replacement.

A still further object oftheinventionresides in providing an improveddrop ham- 1929. Serial No. 363,921.

mer construction in which Vthe hammer raising rolls areY independentlyand synchronously driven in a smooth and effective manner by separatedrive means. j

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outmore indetail hereinafter. Y

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement ofparts which will e0 beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or correspondingparts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an improved drop hammer constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged ntop plan view oitl the same.

Fig. 3 is a horiontal section taken *on the line 3-3 in Figure 4. v

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken onthe 75 line 4 4 in Figure 5, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken -onthe line 5-j-5 in Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,110 designates the base, and11, the uprights having the guideways 12 for the hammer 13. A The hammerboard is represented at 14 and lit passes up through the head of themachine. The friction bar is adapted, in the customary manner, tooperate the eccentrics 85 for the front roll 42 for moving that rollinto and out of engagement with the board 14. An adjustable bar 16 maybe connected to the eccentrics for the rear roll 41 for the purpose ofadjusting the rear roll relative to 9o the hammer board and the frontroll. The front clamp `(not shown) maybe operated by the rod 17 from thetreadle 18 carried by thebase v10; The rear clamp (not shown) may beadjusted, in the `usual manner, through the rod 17. The base 10`supports the lower die 19. A

The parts ,and elements of the hammerv above described are old andwell-known and, therefore, they are not completely illustrated 100 nordescribed in detail. It is understood, of course, that the presentdisclosure is by way of illustration only, it being obvious that theimprovements of the present invention may be incorporated in drophammers generally, and that the hammer is susceptible to variousmodifications and changes. In the present instance there is shown asingle `pair, of

hammer lifting rolls, but it isobvious thatV a plurality of steps ofrolls arranged one above the other may be provided. It is also apparentthat the eccentrics in which the hammer roll shafts are journalled maybe variously adjusted andcontrolled, and this is also true of the boardclamps. The present invention relates more particularly to the head ofthe machine and driving means for the rolls.` The head, which comprisesthe sections and 20, is so constructed that'it may replace the heads ofthe present machine without changing the construction of the standardsor uprights 11. To this end, the bottom portion of the lower headsection 15 is formed similarlyv to the lower ends of heads as heretoforeyconstructed. The upper head section 2() supports the roll drivingmechanisms, that will now be described. As shown in Figure 2, anelectric motor 21 is installed upon the head section or platform at onecorner thereof. The armature shaft 22 of this motor extends out from themotor and to a flexible or other connection of connector 23, throughwhich the motor is coupled to a shaft 24 of a gear reduction unit 25. 1

This reduction unit may be of any appropriate internal construction (notshown), the same forming no part of the present invention. The unit 25is installed at a corner of the head section 20 in axial line with themotor 21, the motor 21, coupling 23 andconnected reduction unit 25 beingall disposed to ene side in the present instance, the rear side of thecenter of the head section 20. In like manner an electric motor 26,flexible or other coupling` 27 and connected gearreduction unit 28 aremounted at the other side, (i. e. front side)` ofthe center of thesection'20, except that in this case the parts arey reversed as toposition; namely, the electric motor 26 is disposed on the left side ofthe head, while the gear reduction unit 28 is disposed on the right sideof the' head. In the center of the section 2O is a slot 29Vto receivethe board 14 carrying the drop hammer 13.

Referring more' particularly to Figure 4, a shaft`30 is shown asextending out from the gear reduction unit 25 and being the follower ordriven shaft of such unit.` This shaft projects beyond thejup'per headsection 20 at the left hand side and receives the sprocket wheel 31which is made fast thereon.v The sprocket wheel is engagedk by a chain32 which extends down toa second sprocket wheel 33 i I5 onthe roll shaft34. The sprockets and'chain are preferably contained within a housing35.

In a similar Way, the gear reduction unit 28 at the opposite side of thehead frame carries a sprocket 36 coupled by a chain 37 to thel'sprocket-38 on the companion roll shaft 39. Y' The last mentionedsprocket and chain gearing are contained in a housing 40 at the endvofthemachine opposite the housing 35. Y

Viewing Figure 3, the roll shafts 34 and 39 are shown as having iixedlymounted thereon the usual rolls 41 and 42, respectively, and betweenwhich the board 14 extends. The

yshaft 34 is journa'lled in the usual eccentrics 43 mounted in the halfbearings 44 of the lower head vsection 15. The eccentrics 43 areconnected by a yoke 43 to which the adjustable bar lz'may-be connectedin the usual manner. The roll shaft 39 is journalled in the eccentrics45 mounted vin the half bearings 46 of the lower head section 15. Theeccentrics 45 are connected by a yoke 45 and are adapted to be turnedwithin the bearings 46 by the friction bar 16 in a well known manner.

Viewing Figure 5, the upper head section extends down to the shafts 34and 39 and is provided with half bearings 47, being complements of thebearings 44 and 46 of the lower head section 15, and adapted tocooperate with such half bearings for confining the eccentrics and theroll shafts in the head frame. The upper head section is formed with theend walls 48 and 49 and with the strengthening webs 50 and 51.Intermediately, as shown in Figure 5, the lower portion of the upperhead section is cut away as indicated at 52 and the walls 53 of the slot29 extend down to this cut away portion `52. A light cellular, yetstrong construction is imparted to the upper head section by thearrangement just described. Y'

'The motors are supported upon pairs of brackets 54 and'55 preferablycast with the upper head section and extending above the platform 20..These brackets 54 and 55 have mutually kout-turned flanges '56 and 57 onwhich the supports for the motorsdirectly rest and are secured as bymeans of the bolts or other fastenin'gs 58. Reinforcing webs 59 and arecast or otherwise produced between the respective flanges, brackets andthe platform 2O. In like manner, the gear reduction units are carriedupon spaced supports 61 having anges 62 reinforced by the webs-63 and64. The units are bolted or otherwise secured to the reinforced andflanged brackets. Y In-the use of the hammer, the motors individuallyand respectively drive the flexible couplings23 and 27 and theirreduction gear units 25 and 28 whereby` the armature shaft speeds of themotors will be stepped down to a -requisitej speed for driving the rolls-41 and 42 through the individual chain drive Connections. Thus eachroll is driven independently ofthe other one, therebemg no mechanicaldriving connection therebetween. The motors 21 and 26 Vare synchronizedin-all respects, however,so thatk the ltwo hammer rolls are driven atthe same speed and under like torque. The motorsfrmay be connected to asingle switc-h. The rolls 41 and 42 grip the board A14; and raisethe-hammer 13`just as heretofore, the clamps V(not shown) areyadapted'to gripfthe board" and releasethe same on operation of thetreadle 18; and the roller 412, through the action-of the friction bar16 and Itheeccentrics 45, is moved into and out Vof gripping engagementwith the board 14, all in a manner'which is well known in this art. Asstated, the reduction units may be ofv standard construction and,therefore, they are notrshown in detail. They may be of the type havinga drive shaft (such as the shaft 24), a driven or follower shaft (suchas the shaft 30) and an intermediate shaft which is designated by thenumeral 66. Asmall gear on the drive 'shaft meshes with a larger gear onthe intermediate shaft, and a small gearon the latter shaft meshes witha large gear on the driver shaft.

The flexible or other couplings 23 and 27 maybe enlarged as to one orboth of their elements or large collars may be included in the couplingconstructions to act as fly wheels for the motors or the sprockets onthe gear reduction shafts might be enlarged and weighted to act as flywheels.

It will be noted, particularly from Figure 2, that a condition ofsymmetry prevails in thedistribution of the units upon the platform 20.One power train is located at one side of the longitudinal center of theplatform; while the opposite power train is disposed tothe other side ofsuch center. Tf we View the transverse center of the platform as beingat right angles to the longitudinal center and postulating that thetransverse center passes through the couplings 23 and 27, it will beapparent that a like condition of symmetry prevails as regards thistransverse center line. In other words an electric motor and a gearreduction unit is disposed to each side of the transverse center, theplaces of the motor and reduction unit being reversed upon oppositesides of the transverse center, just as they are upon opposite Sides ofthe longitudinal center line of the platform.

This disposition of the parts creates weight balance which is importantin eliminating vibration. Moreover, the synchronous operation of themotors will assist in this respect and the fact that two motors areprovided to individually drive the roll shafts will also eliminatevibration particularly if the motors are synchronized. Especially isthis latter fact so where the motors are disposed at relatively oppositepositions upon the head .fra-mer In such relative positions the speedilyrotating armature shafts turn'in relatively Iopposite `direc-tions andthey dynamically balance one another and create a condition .ofstability vin the head, enhance equilibrium and to this extent decreasethe vibration. Not only are themotors themselves Idynamically balanced,but the turning moments of the `motor armatures, as well ascorresponding shafts and gears of the reduction units, `are dynamicallybalanced. ;The vibration is objectionable'because of the wear andl tearland-these are largely if vnot wholly eliminated bythe symmetricalarrangement andthe balanced condition of the units.

' It will be observed that the driving-units are disposed upon thetop-ofthe head frame within the limits of the base 10. These driving ujnts addweight to the top vof the machine, and this added weight tends to reduce'i thevibration of 1the top of the machine. If it were attempted`tosupport these driving units so that they overhung, the tendency wouldbe toaccelerate or accentuate the vibration of the machine, and suchstrains and stresses wouldbe set upas would tend to jar the connectionsloose'. It will also be observed that the sprocket chains form what maybeltermed fieXible yet positive connections between the slow speed sidesof the reduction gearings andthe roll shafts.V Such 'a connection isaIdistinct advantage in my arrangement, as it relieves, to alarge extent,the shocks vand jars which would otherwise be transmitted to thereduction unit and motor when'the rolls pick up the board without,however, introducing any slippage, such as would be produced if beltswere. employed; It is understood thatthe motors and reductionunits-arecontinuously driven, and when i the hammer drops down the rollsarefreeof the hammer board so -thatthere is but little strain vupon the`driving vinstrumentalitiesl/Vhenfthe rolls are moved against the boardto effect-a v lifting movement of the weight, considerable strains andstresses vare ivery suddenly broughtinto play, as the inertia of thehammer mustbe overcome, and afterithe hammer starts "to rise, thesestresses and strains are somewhat smoothed out. y When the rollsinitially pick up'the board, the transmittal lof the strains andstresses to the reduction unitsare somewhat cushioned by the sprocketchains,7which tend to fleX or elongate slightly. Of course, thiscushioning action takes place in a very small fraction'of time, indeed,almost instantaneously, but nevertheless 1 it iskk sufficientlypronounced, from the practical standpoint,to materially reduce the'shockswhich would be transmitted to the reduction units and the motorswere the connection between these units and the rolls rigid l The devicewill operate more smoothly and there is noslippa'ge ortlost motion' asbetween the 'intermeshinggear Ywheels heretofore employed in this artfor transferring the pow,- erfrom the motor at one side to the rollshaft at the other side.

It is obvi ous that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above specifically describedembodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof,such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of thefollowingclaims.

I claim as my invention:

l.. In a drop hammer, a board connected to the hammer, a head frame,opposed rolls in the head frame for gripping opposite sides of theboard, an electric motor installed on each sideof the hammer boardv andturned relatively so that the armature shafts thereof rotate in oppositedirections, gearreduction units installed on the opposite sides of thehammer board and coupled to said motors at such sides, said motors andreduction units being positioned diagonally With respect to the centerof the head frame to effect weight balance and each motor and itsreduction unit being V,equally balanced in weight with respect'to theother motor and its reduction unit, and, individual sprocket chainsbetween said units and the independent rolls. v

2. In a drop hammer, a board connected to the hammer, a head frame,opposed rolls in the head frame for gripping opposite sides of theboard, a pair of electric motors mounted on the head frame in diagonalspaced relation and with the respective armature shafts parallel,gearreductio-n units coupled tothe armature shafts also placeddiagonally with respect to one another, and individual sprocket chainsbetween the units and rolls'.`

3. In a drop hammer, a board connected to the hammer, a head frame,lifting rolls in the head frame for gripping opposite sides of theboard, a pair of synchronized individual electric motors positioned indiagonal relation to one another onthe head frame and within the same,armature shafts mounted in each of the electric motors to rotate in-Vdividually, gear reduction'units coupled to the respective armatureshafts alsomounted in diagonal relation and within the head framewhereby the weight of the electric motors and gear reduction units willexert a uniform pressure on the lower parts of the drop hammer, andindividual sprocket chains between the units and rolls.

4. In a drop hammer, aboard connected to the hammer, a headframeproviding a flat rectangular platform witha central openingforthepassage of the hammer board opposed rolls in the head frame forgripping the opposite sides of the board, a pair of synchronizedindividual electric motors diagonally mounted on the platform providedwith individual armature shafts to rotate in parallel relation onopposite sides of the central opening, gear reduction units coupled toeach of the individual armature shafts also ,diagonally placed withrespect to vone another, and individual sprocket-chains between theunits and rolls. Y

5. In a drop hammer, a board connectedV to the hammer, a head frame,opposed rolls in the head frame for gripping opposite sides of theboard, a pair of electric motors mounted on the head frame in diagonalspaced relation, separate gear reduction units on the frame coupled tothe respective motors and placed diagonally With respect to oneanother,y and drive connections between said units and rolls, thediagonal of the gear units being substantially at-right angles to thediagonal of the motors.

. 6. In a drop hammer, a board connected to the hammer, a head frame,opposed rolls in the head frame for gripping opposite sides of theboard, an electric motor installed on each side of the hammer board andturned relatively so that the armature shafts thereof rotate in oppositedirections, and gear reducing mechanism interposed between each motorand a respective roll, said gear reduction mechanisms being installed onopposite sides of the hammer board, said motors being positioneddiagonally in one direction With respect to the head frame, thereduction mechanisms being diagonally positioned in the otherdirectionwith respect to the head frame, whereby to effect a Weightbalance, each motor and its reduction mechanismbeing equally balanced inWeight with respect to the othermotor and its reduction mechanism.

1 FREDERIC c. BILLINGs.

